Nitish Katara murders sentenced to 25 years jail

The two murderers of Nitish Katara, who loved a politician’s daughter and brutally burnt down to death, were sentenced to 25 year imprisonment by the Supreme Court today. Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav, who are cousins dragged Mr Katara when he was in a wedding hall along with Ms Bharathi, his lover who is daughter of politician DP Yadav. They abducted him and taken to a place and burnt him alive. Another man Pahelwan helped them he was awarded 20 years of jail.

This incident, occurred in 2002, has has hit national headlines and media trial brought the murders to light.

The High court has termed the ghastly incident as honour killing.

The Yadav cousins and Pehalwan had appealed in the top court against an order of the Delhi High Court, which had in February last year sentenced the Yadavs to 25 years in jail without remission and their aide to 20 years, with an additional five years each for destruction of evidence.

Nitish Katara’s mother Neelam Katara, who has battled hard for justice, said she was satisfied that the court had upheld many more years of punishment for her sons killers than the 14 years usually awarded in a life sentence.

“We wanted the death sentence, but am happy that the court acknowledged that this was not normal murder but an honour killing by rich people drunk on power,” Ms Katara said, adding, “Of course I wish they had got 10 years more. The evidence they destroyed was my son’s body, not a pair of slippers.
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